Judge Michael Luttig’s July 4th Essay in Telos

Media Mention, July 2, 2025

In honor of the Fourth of July, Board Member J. Michael Luttig authored an exclusive piece for Telos outlining twenty-seven truths — an homage to the original 27 grievances the colonists presented to the British Crown — about the freedoms, rights, and liberties we all enjoy as Americans.

From the article:

'When the tyrannical reign of King George III became destructive of the ends of government by law under which all persons are equal and endowed with certain unalienable rights, the American Colonists declared their independence from the British King, chronicling 27 grievances of self-evident truths about tyranny as reasons for their declaration of independence.

On this July 4, 2025, the eve of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of America’s declaration of independence and the founding of this Nation, ‘We the People’ hold to be self-evident these 27 truths about freedom—and about tyranny.'

Read the piece here.

https://www.telos.news/p/luttig-the-self-evident-truths-of-freedom

 

Surviving Life in A Dictatorship Using Passive Aggressive Behaviour

A disclaimer first: Until now, I have never lived in an authoritarian regime. 

My thoughts are educated guesses at best. However, there may be some behaviour rules that will help the country until the tyrant is gone, regardless of the reason he goes.

I think it is a safe assumption that all of his and his minions' actions are evil and will harm real people. Since he thinks like a tyrant, then all his actions are directed to his own benefit regardless of any harm that may hurt citizens. This is the root definition of evil: a lack of empathy. He considers other people to be objects without feelings or worth who can be manipulated and/or destroyed for his personal benefit. 

Some of us want to prevent the tyrant from inflicting harm on the country with any of his programs and initiatives. We may be in a position to impede his and his minions' machinations. We should do so wherever we can. 

My basic mind set is that whatever he chooses to do will be harmful for the general population while any benefits accrue to him and his cronies.

Here's an idea of how to impede and delay his evil programs for those in positions of power: continue to vocally support the tyrant while at the same time you are obstructing any and all actions he wishes you to perform. "Of course I support you because you are mighty and wise, I am only sorry that I was not able to do what you asked. I will try harder."

If the tyrant says that he will fire you for poor performance, then make him do just that, don't do his job by quitting. Continue deflecting and offering excuses as long as you can since that will use up his attention and delay other harms he wants to do.

That is disgusting behaviour for anyone. However, it is justified since that behaviour is exactly what the tyrant does every day. 

When all the directions from the tyrant will harm the people you love and he has political violence at his disposal, it will likely be foolish of you who are in a power position to 'get in his face' and call him out. That time has passed for any minor action. Of course, there may be something so bad that you are willing to torpedo your career to stop him; if so, the God bless you.

Others may be unable to sabotage his programs because they are outside positions of power; those of us in that position should march, protest and strike with as much vigour as we can find. Some political scientists suggest that tyrannies fall when 3.5 % of the population demonstrates continuously against the regime. Recent protests have seen 5 million people march and demonstrate; that number has been growing. 3.5% of the population is about 11 million, so we must continue to protest.

 

Gaming Out Trump's Death and/or Resignation

His demise or departure will be good for the United States of America. We will dance in the streets with great joy.

But, let us be clear - his departure will not end our problems. While we will still have the shells and appearance of many of the institutions which create the Rule of Law, those institutions will be hollowed out and filled with trump's Fascist supporters. Other institutions may be moribund or inactive.

We will see a recession after his demise because billionaires control large sections of the economy. We can overcome the recession by ensuring that the Rule of Law survives.

In order to create or re-create the Rule of Law, we will need to restore integrity and power to all our institutions. Otherwise, we will just be another country ruled by Oligarchs. Here's how: remove all trump supporters and other Fascists and replace them with people of integrity and competence. 

Here is a partial list of the institutions in peril: 

1. Election integrity. Today our election process is vulnerable to manipulation. Credible reports suggest that election interference gave trump the win in 2024. 

2. Monopoly Regulation. Private firms which control any industry are incentivized to raise prices and sell less for more profits. They also increase profits when they acquire or destroy competitors. 

3. Competition. Firms in free markets reduce prices to consumers, encourage innovation and raise the GDP when they face competition. When privately owned industries cannot be made to allow more competition, then they can be managed by a Public Utilities Commission which has the power to approve of price changes and acquisitions and divestments. Obviously any such commission will be the target for bribery and corruption and so must be protected vigorously.

4. Income and Wealth Inequality. Most of our wealth and incomes are owned by the very rich among us. That cannot stand. We need a viable middle class in order to be prosperous and free. Extreme wealth should be nationalized; very high incomes should be highly taxed to fund the social services our population needs. 

5. Immigration. Immigrants contribute vast amounts of wealth and industry to all our benefit. Our 100 year sustained economic growth pattern relies on immigrants to continue. 

6. Education. Our jobs and wealth come from technologies invented by scientists and engineers trained in our universities. We must support them in order to secure our future.  

Americans can find the will to fix these issues, but it will be hard. Our grandchildren deserve no less.